John 4:34

Title: My food

While most people appreciate food for its appearance, aroma, texture, and flavor, and when we also consider it as a source of energy and pleasure, and a time of rest and fellowship when partaking of it with family or friends, the Christian derives the same in his dedication to fulfill the task God has ordained for him to accomplish.

And the task of announcing the good news of salvation in Jesus, the Christ, would not wait, in the same manner that the body would have to be nourished with such frequency and urgency day after day.

2 Timothy 1:10

Title:  Through the gospel

Through belief in the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus as the only payment for the penalty of sin, holiness is received; life as God has it is imputed to the saint as his highest and best possession.

Therefore the Christian must be a channel of this revelation of life incorruptible, with all the glory and honour that come with it.

And yet the calling for us to live righteous lives even by the power of God can only be achieved by much suffering, and in such condition reach out to a lost and broken world.

John 12:8

Title: The poor

Many congregations help the poor with the deeper intention of sharing to them the gospel. This may look noble and commendable, but it may give the wrong impression that the gospel addresses social and economic problems in its context.

The gospel deals with sin and its consequence, and ultimately its presence. It gives no guarantee to wealth or physical well-being. In fact, being a Christian places a person in the path of persecution and, as warned by the Lord Jesus, tribulation in this world.

The gospel needs no decorations to make it palatable. To a soul that is perishing, it will always be offensive. What the gospel needs is a storyteller, a soul tired of sin, and the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:18

Title: All authority

Behind this command is the power of government whose orders must be obeyed.

The story must be told that Jesus was born to take away the sins of those who would trust in him as their Savior; that he died for their sins, was buried, and that he resurrected himself after three days all according to Scriptures.

The supreme sacrifice of death has been paid by the Lord Jesus, thus assuring the efficacy of the message to those who would hear, obey, and follow.

And there is no excuse to neglect such sacred duty inasmuch as there is no other way by which sin might be dealt with with finality and salvation procured as a result.

1 Corinthians 15:1

Title: The Gospel

No one can be labeled “good” without being “just” at the same time.

The act of taking away sin is not put into effect at the expense of justice. We can be sorry all we want for our transgressions, and perform all the good deeds in the hope of tipping the scale of right or wrong in our favor, but to no avail will these earn us forgiveness. In the Christian economy forgiveness is not earned; forgiveness is received as a gift by faith.

The gospel message is not about forgiveness per se; it is the good news of the Lord Jesus taking our place in order for him to pay in full the penalty for our sins, so that repentance might be made possible and forgiveness received as a gift.